Will County Plan To Deter Teen Drinking Fizzles

Three days after a plan to crack down on teen drinking was announced at a press conference by Will County's three top elected officials, the wheels appeared to have come off of it.

"It's clearly unconstitutional," Will County Chief Judge Herman Haase said Friday of a program that would sidestep an allegedly unresponsive court system and send alcohol violations involving minors to County Executive Charles Adelman.

The program, announced Tuesday by Adelman, Sheriff Brendan Ward and State's Atty. James Glasgow, was portrayed as a means of dealing more harshly with teen drinking.

The plan appeared to have been well-received when Haase on Friday said it could not be done.

"I'm sure everyone was well-intentioned, but I don't think this was very well thought-out," said Haase, who noted that Illinois law is specific on who can handle judicial-style hearings and under what circumstances.

He said he plans on Monday to create a new court call to expedite what has been described as a backlog of cases involving underage drinking.

But he questioned the existence of such a backlog, noting the hearings by Adelman would have been held only one day a month. Adelman has said 30 cases are pending.

Under the proposed program, Adelman, who serves as the county liquor commissioner, was to have handled liquor violations involving minors in much the same manner used to decide charges leveled against bar owners. Adelman said he planned to levy fines of up to $275 for minors who were three-time offenders.

Adelman, who originally proposed the change, acknowledges it could have legal defects but says he's not to blame.

"I hear there is some controversy about it but . . . the state's attorney's office said everything was fine. If (Haase) is not happy, that's not my fault."

Adelman said the idea was prompted by what he believes is too little emphasis on punishing minors who buy alcohol.

"I feel kind of sorry for these (bar owners) because the kids come in with sophisticated (phony) ID and the establishments get hit with a fine. I said there ought to be some way to fine the minor who has fake ID, and that's what started it all."

Assistant State's Atty. Dawn Underhill, who drew up the county ordinance intended to shift the underage drinking cases to the liquor commission, said the measure was not patterned after a program underway elsewhere.

Assistant State's Atty. Phil Mock, who heads Glasgow's civil division, said he was not consulted, but he defended the ordinance Friday.

Mock said the program relies on a three-line change made March 20 in the county ordinance. The passage adds minors buying alcohol to the list of those who can be held responsible for liquor violations.

"It's an accountability theory," Mock said, noting that it would apply only to liquor violations that occurred on the premises of a licensed bar or take-out store.

"If a minor was found with beer in his car, that would be an entirely different thing. He may well have purchased it anywhere."

The measure would not apply to minors under 17, who are subject to state laws governing juveniles.